Joseph Lochert wrote on May 01, 2008 05:11 PM: Sad,

My point is this: In your earlier email, you said: "Quackenbush was an attorney long before he was a judge. They look after their own." I read that as impugning his integrity. I simply wanted to point out that under that reasoning, Quackenbush would look after the prosecutors, because he once was a prosecutor.

nuevp americano wrote on April 30, 2008 08:58 PM: George Knapp would be surprised as well as his insurance friends.

Sad wrote on April 30, 2008 06:30 PM: Joe, a good many of our state judges came from our DA's office and AG's office. Your point would be?

Nuevo Americano wrote on April 30, 2008 04:13 PM:
Surprise no one? George Knapp has already convicted Gage. It sure will surprise dear old George and his insurance friends

Joseph Lochert wrote on April 30, 2008 09:25 AM: Sad,

Before questioning the integrity of Quackenbush, you should know that he spent a couple of years as a prosecutor in Spokane County, Washington. (I got this information from the federal judicial center website, which contains biographies of the federal judges. It can be found at http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf. You can do a search for Quackenbush under "Judges of the United States Courts.")

Just The Facts Please wrote on April 30, 2008 08:49 AM: Mr. Smith - were you absent when fair and balanced was taught at J-school? Your on-going vicious attacks must be great for selling papers but is the public really getting the facts?
The fact is that Dr. Thalgott voluntarily approached the federal government offering to be a witness in this case. He is not on trial here, yet you persist in "trying" him in the paper. And, "pet reporters" - oh my, Mr. Smith - to cast asperions upon your peers. These are not any of the tenets of true journalists. You should stick to writing books and get out of the "news" business.

curious wrote on April 30, 2008 08:26 AM: Gee Whiz,Sad, it really is a shame that the federal judge followed the dictates of the constitution and actually made the government lawyers give Gage a fair trial. I thought that was the whole point of our war, "spreading democracy." So, your argument is that the "Judge" ought to eliminate Gage's right to a fair trial, let the government put on perjured testimony, and put the 70 year old Gage in jail as a "message." What is the "message," that the Taliban is alive and well at the US Attorney's office? What part of America are you from? You don't think people deserve a fair trial? Just take them out and lynch them? Do you even know what the facts are, or do you have some hidden agenda? Did your ex-wife kick your butt at court and you "hate" judges and lawyers? Or what is your story?

Greedy Pigs!!!! wrote on April 30, 2008 08:19 AM: Stupid is as stupid does.

Sad wrote on April 30, 2008 07:56 AM: The sad part is Quackenbush has done all he can to blow the case. Quackenbush was an attorney long before he was a judge. They look after their own.

Quackenbush really whittled this case down. The public deserves better. The jury instructions were confusing.

Don't worry Noel "The Quack" has your back.

oldlawdawg wrote on April 30, 2008 03:48 AM: Because of the alleged "fixing" of the Simon case through collusion and perjury,the government's case against Gage is the strongest case it has against any lawyer,and Gage would never be convicted regardless of whether Kabins is immunized. Anybody even remotely familiar with how the "medical mafia" works could have accurately predicted from day one that no lawyer will ever be convicted of a crime,and that it is unlikely anybody but those who "turned,"such as Thalgott and Venger,would ever actually "pay" for their conduct unless there is proof of some independent crime such as tax evasion,money laundering,perjury/subornition or obstruction. Indeed,as despicably greedy and unseemly as the entire mess may be,absent proof of such lesser and independent crimes,it is next to impossible to prove that Gage -- let alone Vannah,Eglet,Harris,the Mainors or other lawyers whose names are bandied about in connection with Awand -- have done anything illegal or in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct,except possible ethical violations for sharing legal fees with non-lawyers or undiclosed individuals,conduct rapidly becoming acceptable in jurisdictions accross America. While every lawyer in Vegas with eyes,ears and a brain has long known and understood that unnecessary,lawyer/expert driven surgeries and procedures -- most notably spine surgery and spinal cord stimulator and drug pump implants -- are daily occurences in Las Vegas,they also understand that it will continue as long as there is expert medical testimony that such procedures are not unreasonable alternatives given the client/patient's condition and desires. Indeed,the clients are often the greediest of all,especially when faced with a life of pain they feel they may as well get paid up the butt for. Face it: where is the line of clients complaining about being forced into accepting millions of dollars for unnecessary surgeries? Insurance companies are not the judges of what is "necessary."